Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving control information in a wireless communication system

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting and receiving signaling information in a digital broadcasting/communication system. A method for transmitting the signaling includes encoding signaling information for a physical layer to generate at least one coded block; and transmitting a frame comprising the at least one coded block.

PRIORITY

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/199,108, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office(USPTO) on Mar. 6, 2014, which is a Continuation of U.S. applicationSer. No. 12/396,644, which was filed in the USPTO on Mar. 3, 2009,issued as on U.S. Pat. No. 9,001,776 on Apr. 7, 2015, and claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Korean Patent Application SerialNo. 10-2008-0019651, which was filed in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice on Mar. 3, 2008, the entire disclosure of each of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus fortransmitting/receiving control information in a wireless communicationsystem. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method andapparatus for transmitting/receiving physical layer control informationin a wireless communication system.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional transmission scheme for a frameincluding control information in a wireless communication system,especially in a wireless digital broadcasting system.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes one frame. The frame101 includes a preamble 102, Layer 1 (L1) signaling information 103,Layer 2 (L2) signaling information 104, and at least one Physical LayerPipe (PLP) 105 to 107. The control information can be delivered in thepreamble 102, the L1 signaling information 103, and the L2 signalinginformation 104, and data is carried in the PLPs 105 to 107.

The preamble 102 is used for time and frequency synchronization andframe synchronization at a receiver. The L1 signaling information 103 isreferred to as P2 because it is transmitted in a P2 symbol. P2represents L1, i.e. physical layer signaling information.

The L1 signaling information 103 includes static, configurable, anddynamic information as indicated by reference numerals 108, 109 and 110,respectively. The static information 108 is almost constant in time,including information about a cell Identifier (ID), a network ID, thenumber of Radio Frequency (RF) channels, a frame length, and thepositions of pilot subcarriers. The configurable information 109 doesnot change in every frame, but includes information that can beconfigurable in an upcoming frame. Therefore, the configurableinformation 109 includes information about a service ID, a modulationscheme, and a code rate used for transmitting service data.

The dynamic information 100 may vary in every frame, including theposition of each PLP carrying service data in a current frame, i.e. thestart and end of each PLP. In FIG. 1, the L2 signaling information 104is signaling information about Layer 2 (L2), that is, a Medium AccessControl (MAC) layer. A PLP carrying the L2 signaling information 104 isreferred to as PLP 0. PLP 0 includes information about the connectionbetween a PLP and a broadcasting service, describing a PLP in which aparticular service is received. The PLPs 105 to 107, PLP 1 to PLP N,convey at least one service channel. As the PLPs 105 to 107 carry actualbroadcasting data, they are also referred to as data PLPs.

To receive a specific broadcasting service channel, a receiver acquiresframe synchronization from the preamble 102 and achieves informationabout a data transmission scheme and a frame length from P2, that is,the L1 signaling information 103. The receiver then detects PLPscarrying the intended service channel from PLPO, that is, the L2signaling information 104, and receives broadcasting data in the PLPs.

In the case of control information such as signaling information, it mayinclude a large number of dummy bits during encoding in the wirelesscommunication system. These dummy bits dissipate communicationresources. Accordingly, there exists a need for a method for encodingcontrol information to efficiently use communication resources.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect an embodiment of the present invention is to address at leastthe problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below. Accordingly, an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention is to provide a method for generating a plurality of codedblocks by efficiently encoding control information and atransmission/reception method and apparatus using the same in a wirelesscommunication system.

Another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides amethod for generating a plurality of coded blocks by efficiently LowDensity Parity Check (LDPC)-encoding control information and atransmission/reception method and apparatus using the same in a wirelesscommunication system.

A further aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides amethod for generating coded blocks distinguishably according to the typeof control information and a transmission/reception method and apparatususing the same in a wireless communication system.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method isprovided for transmitting signaling information in a digitalbroadcasting/communication system. The method includes encodingsignaling information for a physical layer to generate at least onecoded block; and transmitting a frame comprising the at least one codedblock.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusis provided for transmitting signaling information in a digitalbroadcasting/communication system. The apparatus includes an encoderconfigured to encode signaling information for a physical layer; atransmitter configured to transmit data through a network; and acontroller configured to control encoding the signaling information togenerate at least one coded block, and to control transmitting a framecomprising the at least one coded block.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method isprovided for receiving signaling information in a digitalbroadcasting/communication system. The method includes receiving a framecomprising at least one coded block; and decoding the at least one codedblock to generate signaling information for a physical layer.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusis provided for receiving signaling information in a digitalbroadcasting/communication system. The apparatus includes a receiverconfigured to receive data through a network; a decoder configured todecode at least one coded block in a received frame; and a controllerconfigured to control decoding the at least one coded block to generatesignaling information for a physical layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certainembodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional transmission scheme for a frameincluding control information in a wireless communication system,especially in a wireless digital broadcasting system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for encoding control information in awireless communication system to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 3 illustrates a control information encoding method in the wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the structures of first and second codewords ascontrol information encoded in the method of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting controlinformation in a transmitter in the wireless communication systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for receiving controlinformation in a receiver in the wireless communication system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the transmitter in the wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the receiver in the wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will beunderstood to refer to the same elements, features and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The matters defined in the description such as a detailed constructionand elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding ofvarious embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, those of ordinaryskill in the art will recognize that various changes and modificationsof the embodiments described herein can be made without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-knownfunctions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for encoding control information in awireless communication system to which the present invention is applied.Specifically, the control information is the L1 signaling informationillustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, L1 signaling information further includes L1pre-signaling information 202 in addition to L1 static information 203,L1 configurable information 204, and L1 dynamic information 205 thathave been described before with reference to FIG. 1. The L1pre-signaling information 202 provides information about a transmissionscheme for the L1 static information 203, the L1 configurableinformation 204, and the L1 dynamic information 205. That is, the L1pre-signaling information 202 indicates subcarriers, modulation schemes(Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), 16-ary Quadrature AmplitudeModulation (16 QAM), 64 QAM, etc.), and code rates used for the L1static information 203, the L1 configurable information 204, and the L1dynamic information 205. While specific numbers of bits are describedfor the L1 pre-signaling information 202, the L1 static information 203,the L1 configurable information 204, and the L1 dynamic information 205,they are mere examples to which the present invention is not limited.

A transmitter creates a codeword by LDPC-decoding the L1 pre-signalinginformation 202 independently, as indicated by reference numeral 206 andanother codeword by LDPC-encoding the L1 static information 203, the L1configurable information 204, and the L1 dynamic information 205collectively, as indicated by reference numeral 207. For the input of arelatively small number of input bits, for example, 200 to 300 bits, theLDPC code generally has poor coding performance.

In the illustrated case of FIG. 2, for the L1 pre-signaling information202, no more than 41 input bits are added with 227 dummy bits and 32Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) bits. The resulting 300 bits are encodedinto one codeword. As described above, as many as 227 bits are used asdummy bits to transmit 73-bit information including the 41-bit L1pre-signaling information and the 32-bit CRC, which is very inefficient.

In accordance with a control information encoding method of the presentinvention, a first codeword is generated by encoding the L1pre-signaling information 202 and predetermined default information ofthe L1 static information 203 (referred to as default L1 staticinformation) and a second codeword is generated by encoding theremaining additional L1 static information, the L1 configurableinformation 204, and the L1 dynamic information 205. Notably, theremaining additional L1 static information is optional in the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a control information encoding method in the wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 3, for encoding control information such as L1signaling information, a first codeword 307 is generated by encoding L1pre-signaling information 302 and default L1 static information 303extracted from L1 static information. An example of the default L1static information 303 will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 4. The input of the L1 static information for the first codeword307 is for improving performance by decreasing dummy bits considerably,compared to the conventional technology. The reason for inputting thedefault L1 static information 303 is to maintain the amount and type ofinput information of the first codeword.

A second codeword 308 is generated by encoding additional L1 staticinformation 304, L1 configurable information 305, and L1 dynamicinformation 306. The additional L1 static information 304 is optional,which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. In FIG. 3,LDPC coding is adopted for creating the first and second codewords 307and 308, by way of example.

FIG. 4 illustrates the structures of the first and second codewords ascontrol information encoded in the method of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, reference numeral 403 denotes an example of L1pre-signaling information and default L1 static information. TimeFrequency Slicing (TFS) represents transmission of one PLP on aplurality of Radio Frequency (RF) channels. In Table 403, NUM_RF at thestart of fields indicated by an arrow 406 indicates the number of RFchannels carrying one PLP. When one PLP is transmitted on a plurality ofRF channels, that is, TFS mode is used, NUM_RF is greater than 1. If onePLP is transmitted on one RF channel, NUM_RF is 1. There are as manymain RF_Frequency fields as the value of NUM_RF. RF_Frequency indicatesan RF frequency, usually occupying 32 bits. In the present invention,the first of one or more RF_Frequency fields is included in the firstcodeword. If NUM_RF is greater than 1, as many RF_Frequency fields as“NUM_RF-1” can be included in the second codeword. This configuration ofthe input information of each codeword can fix the bit numbers and typesof the input information of the first codeword.

Main fields of the L1 pre-signaling information listed in Table 403 are“TYPE” indicating the type of a stream transmitted in a frame, “L1_COD”indicating the code rate of Part II information 402, “L1_MOD” indicatingthe modulation scheme of the Part II information 402, “L1_FEC_TYPE”indicating an L1 Forward Error Correction (FEC) type used for the PartII information 402 (e.g. a 16 k LDPC block), “L1_P_SIZE” indicating thesize of the coded and modulated Part II information 402, “BW_EXT” is anindicator specific to a geographical cell in a network, “NETWORK_ID”identifying a current network, “T2_SYSTEM_ID” identifying a system, and“RF_IDX” is the index of an RF channel.

Reference numeral 407 denotes another example of the first and secondcodeword configuration. In Table 403, FEF is a field indicating whethera Further Extension Frame (FEF) is used. An FEF is a frame defined toallow some frame to be transmitted in a future technology. If FEF is 0,an FEF is not used in the current system. If FEF is 1, an FEF is used inthe current system. Control information about Further Extension Frame isadded in Table 404. As noted from Table 403, the input information ofeach codeword is configured such that only necessary information isincluded in the first codeword when an FEF is not used and additional L1static information is included in the second codeword when an FEF isused. Hence, the input information of the first codeword is constant inbit number and type.

Main fields of L1 configurable information and L1 dynamic information ofPart II listed in Table 405 are “MUM PLP” indicating the number of PLPstransmitted in a (super)frame, “PLP_ID” is an Identification (ID)specific to a PLP, “PLP_CO” indicating the code rate of the PLP,“PLP_MOD” indicating the modulation scheme of the PLP, “PLP_FEC_TYPE”indicating an FEC type used for the PLP, “PLP_NUM_BLOCKS” indicating thenumber of FEC blocks included in an interleaved frame of the currentPLP, and “PLP_START” indicating the start position of the PLP in thecurrent PLP.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting controlinformation in a transmitter in the wireless communication systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the transmitter generates P2 information (L1pre-signaling information, L1 static information, L1 configurableinformation, and L1 dynamic information) as control information for acurrent frame in step 501. The transmitter generates a coded block as afirst codeword (Part I) by LDPC-encoding the L1 pre-signalinginformation and default L1 static information having a fixed number ofbits among the determined control information and transmits the firstcodeword in step 502. In step 503, the transmitter determines whetherthe generated control information includes additional L1 staticinformation. In the absence of the additional L1 static information, thetransmitter generates a codeword being a coded block by LDPC-encodingthe L1 configurable information and L1 dynamic information having avariable number of bits and transmits the codeword in step 504. If theL1 configurable information and L1 dynamic information have a largenumber of bits, they can be transmitted in a plurality of code blocks,i.e. in a plurality of codewords.

In the presence of the additional L1 static information in step 503, thetransmitter generates a codeword by LDPC-encoding the additional L1static information together with the L1 configurable information and theL1 dynamic information and transmits the codeword in step 505. If thesum of the L1 configurable information and the L1 dynamic information isa large number of bits, they can be transmitted in a plurality ofcodewords. After step 504 or 505, the transmitter repeats the aboveoperation for a next frame in step 506.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for receiving controlinformation in a receiver in the wireless communication system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the receiver acquires L1 pre-signaling informationand default L1 static information by decoding the coded block (LowDensity Parity Check (LDPC) block) of a first codeword in a receivedcurrent frame in accordance with predetermined subcarriers, code rate,and modulation scheme in step 601. In step 602, the receiver determines,based on the acquired information, whether a plurality of RF channels oran FEF is used. The determination of step 602 is about whetheradditional L1 static information exists. If additional L1 staticinformation does not exist in step 602, the receiver receives a secondcodeword of Part II in the current frame using the positions ofsubcarriers, the code rate, and the modulation scheme of Part IIacquired from the L1 pre-signaling information and acquires L1configurable information and L1 dynamic information from the secondcodeword of Part II in step 603. If determining that the additional L1static information exists in step 602, the receiver receives a secondcodeword of Part II in the current frame using the positions ofsubcarriers, the code rate, and the modulation scheme of Part IIacquired from the L1 pre-signaling information and acquires theadditional L1 static information, the L1 configurable information, andthe L1 dynamic information from the second codeword of Part II in step604. In step 605, the receiver repeats the above operation for a nextframe.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the transmitter in the wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 7, a transmitter 700 includes a transmission databuffer 701, a scheduler 702, a control information generator 703, anLDPC encoder 704, a transmission part 705, and a controller 706. Inaccordance with the present invention, control information, that is,physical layer signaling information transmitted from the transmitter700 is divided into L1 pre-signaling information with a fixed number ofbits, and L1 configurable information and L1 dynamic information with avariable number of bits. The L1 variable information and the L1 dynamicinformation are referred to as L1-post signaling information.

The transmission data buffer 701 buffers service data (i.e. PLPs) to betransmitted on a plurality of broadcasting service channels, when abroadcasting service is provided in the wireless communication system.The scheduler 702 performs a predetermined scheduling operation based oninformation about the buffered data received from the transmission databuffer 701. The scheduling operation involves determining the L1pre-signaling information, the L1 configurable information, and the L1dynamic information as control information to be transmitted in a frame.The control information generator 703 receives the result of thescheduling operation and generates field values for the L1 pre-signalinginformation, the L1 configurable information, and the L1 dynamicinformation that have been described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.The LDPC encoder 704 receives the control information from the controlinformation generator 703, generates a coded block (LDPC block) from thesignaling information with the fixed number of bits and generates atleast one coded block from the signaling information with the variablenumber of bits. The transmission part 705 transmits the LDPC blocksreceived from the LDPC encoder 704 according to predetermined subcarrierpositions, code rate, and modulation scheme. The controller 705 providesoverall control to the transmitter 700 in order to generate and transmitLDPC blocks in the method of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the receiver in the wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, a receiver 800 includes a control informationreceiver 801, an LDPC decoder 802, a control information analyzer 804,and a controller 803. The control information receiver 801 receivescontrol information, that is, L1 signaling information including L1pre-signaling information, L1 configurable information, and L1 dynamicinformation according to predetermined subcarrier positions, code rate,and modulation scheme and demodulates the L1 signaling information. TheLDPC decoder 802 decodes the demodulated L1 signaling information in themethod described in FIG. 6 and outputs the decoded information to thecontrol information analyzer 804 which analyzes the decoded controlinformation. The controller 803 provides overall control to the receiver800 to receive and decode LDPC blocks in the method of FIG. 6.

As is apparent from the above description, the embodiments of thepresent invention can transmit and receive control information moreefficiently by decreasing the number of dummy bits, when the controlinformation is encoded and transmitted. Especially when controlinformation, that is, physical layer signaling information istransmitted in a plurality of LDPC codewords, a codeword having a fixednumber of bits is transmitted and received according to the types ofcontrol information. Therefore, a transmitter and a receiver aresimplified in structure.

Embodiments of the present invention can also be embodied ascomputer-readable codes on a computer-readable recording medium. Thecomputer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that canstore data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examplesof the computer-readable recording medium include, but are not limitedto, read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs,magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, and carrierwaves (such as data transmission through the Internet via wired orwireless transmission paths). The computer-readable recording medium canalso be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that thecomputer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.Also, function programs, codes, and code segments for accomplishing thepresent invention can be easily construed as within the scope of theinvention by programmers skilled in the art to which the presentinvention pertains.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain embodiments of the present invention thereof, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transmitting signaling informationin a digital broadcasting/communication system, the method comprising:encoding signaling information for a physical layer to generate at leastone coded block; and transmitting a frame comprising the at least onecoded block, wherein the signaling information comprises firstinformation having a fixed number of bits and second information havinga variable number of bits, wherein the first information comprisesinformation indicating a forward error correction (FEC) type of thesecond information for receiving the second information, and wherein thesecond information comprises information indicating an FEC type used fora related physical layer pipe (PLP) as service data.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the second information further comprises frequencyinformation on one or more radio frequency (RF) channels, except one RFchannel, among a plurality of RF channels, if one PLP is transmittedover the plurality of RF channels.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein thesignaling information further comprises information indicating a numberof the one or more radio RF channels, except the one RF channel.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises at least one PLPas the service data.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least onecoded block is generated using a low density parity check (LDPC) codingscheme.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information furthercomprises at least one of: information indicating a number of the PLPtransmitted in the frame; information for identifying the PLP;information indicating a modulation scheme used for the PLP; andinformation indicating a start position associated with the PLP in theframe.
 7. An apparatus for transmitting signaling information in adigital broadcasting/communication system, the apparatus comprising: anencoder configured to encode signaling information for a physical layer;a transmitter configured to transmit data through a network; and acontroller configured to control encoding the signaling information togenerate at least one coded block, and to control transmitting a framecomprising the at least one coded block, wherein the signalinginformation comprises first information having a fixed number of bitsand second information having a variable number of bits, wherein thefirst information comprises information indicating a forward errorcorrection (FEC) type of the second information for receiving the secondinformation, and wherein the second information comprises informationindicating an FEC type used for a related physical layer pipe (PLP) asservice data.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the secondinformation further comprises frequency information on one or more radiofrequency (RF) channels, except one RF channel, among a plurality of RFchannels, if one PLP is transmitted over the plurality of RF channels.9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the signaling information furthercomprises information indicating a number of the one or more radio RFchannels, except the one RF channel.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein the frame further comprises at least one PLP as the servicedata.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one coded blockis generated using a low density parity check (LDPC) coding scheme. 12.The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second information furthercomprises at least one of: information indicating a number of the PLPtransmitted in the frame; information for identifying the PLP;information indicating a modulation scheme used for the PLP; andinformation indicating a start position associated with the PLP in theframe.
 13. A method for receiving signaling information in a digitalbroadcasting/communication system, the method comprising: receiving aframe comprising at least one coded block; and decoding the at least onecoded block to generate signaling information for a physical layer;wherein the signaling information comprises first information having afixed number of bits and second information having a variable number ofbits, wherein the first information comprises information indicating aforward error correction (FEC) type of the second information forreceiving the second information, and wherein the second informationcomprises information indicating an FEC type used for a related physicallayer pipe (PLP) as service data.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereinthe second information further comprises frequency information on one ormore radio frequency (RF) channels, except one RF channel, among aplurality of RF channels, if one PLP is transmitted over the pluralityof RF channels.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the signalinginformation further comprises information indicating a number of the oneor more radio RF channels, except the one RF channel.
 16. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the frame further comprises at least one PLP as theservice data.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one codedblock is decoded using a low density parity check (LDPC) coding scheme.18. The method of claim 13, wherein the second information furthercomprises at least one of: information indicating a number of the PLPtransmitted in the frame; information for identifying the PLP;information indicating a modulation scheme used for the PLP; andinformation indicating a start position associated with the PLP in theframe.
 19. An apparatus for receiving signaling information in a digitalbroadcasting/communication system, the apparatus comprising: a receiverconfigured to receive a frame including data through a network; adecoder configured to decode at least one coded block in the receivedframe; and a controller configured to control decoding the at least onecoded block to generate signaling information for a physical layer,wherein the signaling information comprises first information having afixed number of bits and second information having a variable number ofbits, wherein the first information comprises information indicating aforward error correction (FEC) type of the second information forreceiving the second information, and wherein the second informationcomprises information indicating an FEC type used for a related physicallayer pipe (PLP) as service data.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, whereinthe second information further comprises frequency information on one ormore radio frequency (RF) channels, except one RF channel, among aplurality of RF channels, if one PLP is transmitted over the pluralityof RF channels.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the signalinginformation further comprises information indicating a number of the oneor more radio RF channels, except the one RF channel.
 22. The apparatusof claim 19, wherein the frame further comprises at least one PLP as theservice data.
 23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least onecoded block is decoded using a low density parity check (LDPC) codingscheme.
 24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second informationfurther comprises at least one of: information indicating a number ofthe PLP transmitted in the frame; information for identifying the PLP;information indicating a modulation scheme used for the PLP; andinformation indicating a start position associated with the PLP in theframe.